UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 


ROBERT  ERNEST  COWAN 


THK    CHILKAT    KLOOTCH 


Indian  Vengeance 


By 
Livingston  French  Jones 


1920 
THE    STRATFORD   COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 
BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS 


Copyright    1920 

The  STRATFORD  CO.,   Publishers 
Boston,  Mass. 


The  Alpine  Press,  Boston,  Mass.,  U.  8.  A. 


Illustrations 

Frontispiece Opp.  Title 

View  of  Wrangell,  Alaska 23 

Hak-wan-ton,  Indians'  Patlatch,  Sitka,  Alaska     .     33 
General  View  of  Sitka,  Alaska    .        .        .        .37 


279975 


Indian  Vengeance 

CHAPTER  I 

"GISSAOOSH  has  brought  us  great  shame," 
said  Konawok,  the  chief  of  the  runaway  wife's 
tribe,  as  he  addressed  his  people,  "and  we  must 
make  his  people  pay  heavily  for  it.  Five  days 
from  this  enough  of  us  must  proceed  to  Wran- 
gell  and  force  our  claim.  We  must  have  enough 
strong  men  of  our  tribe  to  fill  three  large 
canoes,  and  when  five  suns  have  come  and  gone 
we  will  go  and  bring  back  Kosteen,  the  wild 
wife,  and  the  pay  for  our  disgrace. 

"My  sons,  make  ready,  and  arm  yourselves 
well,  for  Wrangell  blood  may  have  to  flow  be- 
fore we  get  what  we  shall  demand." 

The  speaker  was  a  tall,  swarthy  Indian  with 
determination  depicted  upon  his  countenance. 

The  people  whom  he  addressed  were  mem- 
bers of  his  own  tribe,  and  they  listened  to  their 
chief's  remarks  with  a  gravity  becoming  the 
occasion. 

Gissaoosh,  a  Wrangell  brave,  while  visiting 
Sitka,  fell  in  love  with  Kosteen,  the  wife  of 

[1] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

another.  She  very  unwisely  reciprocated  his 
attentions,  and  finally  eloped  with  him. 

The  semi-barbarous  inhabitants  were  greatly 
excited  over  the  affair,  and  it  furnished  them  a 
topic  for  gossip  for  many  days. 

The  day  after  the  elopement,  measures  for 
capturing  the  offending  parties  were  excitedly 
discussed  by  the  tribe  of  Kosteen.  Then  it  was 
that  Konawok,  their  chief,  delivered  the  words 
already  recorded.  A  hearty  assent  was  given  to 
the  remarks  of  the  chief.  More  than  enough 
volunteered  their  services. 

It  was  not  deemed  wise  to  put  chase  to  the 
eloping  ones,  as  there  were  so  many  different 
water-courses,  if  they  pursued  them,  they  might 
not  strike  the  right  one.  Besides,  the  elopers 
had  many  hours  the  start  of  them. 

It  was  argued  that  as  the  man  who  had  se- 
duced the  woman  was  from  Wrangell,  in  due 
time  he  would  convey  his  prize  to  that  burg. 
There  the  tribe  of  Konawok  could  wait  upon 
the  tribe  of  Gissaoosh,  the  offender,  recover  the 
woman  and  demand  such  pay  of  blankets  as 
would  be  considered  enough  to  cover  such  great 
shame  as  had  been  given  them. 

To  a  native  an  act  involving  shame  is  worse 
than  an  act  involving  mere  injury.  There  is 

[2] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

nothing  that  so  completely  breaks  him  up  as  a 
sick  tumtum  (sense  of  shame).  He  loses  appe- 
tite and  sleep,  and  is  very  mopish  until  he  has 
been  adequately  compensated  for  his  shame. 
He  is  very  sensitive  and  easily  offended  too. 
To  be  laughed  at,  to  have  any  gift  declined,  not 
to  eat  heartily  of  the  food  he  sets  before  you, 
no  matter  how  vile  it  may  be  to  your  taste  and 
pungent  to  your  nose,  to  fail  to  give  him  five 
or  ten  times  more  than 'he  has  given  you,  to 
slight  him  in  any  way,  are  causes  of  shame.  The 
biggest  shame  you  can  give  him  is  to  call  him 
a  witch. 

Then  there  is  tribal  shame  or  offenses  re- 
sented by  the  entire  tribe.  Such  was  the  offense 
of  Gissaoosh.  A  member  of  the  tribe  had  been 
injured  and  their  custom  grossly  violated.  This 
was  their  cause,  therefore  as  a  tribe  they  would 
see  to  it  that  reparation  was  had.  And  as  the 
tribe  of  Gissaoosh  would  naturally  take  up  his 
defense,  Konawok  would  look  to  them  for  that 
reparation. 

The  intervening  days  till  the  chief  and  his 
volunteers  would  start  on  their  mission  were 
spent  mostly  in  collecting  and  putting  in  good 
shape  their  war  implements.  In  those  days 
these  consisted  of  knives,  clubs,  spears,  axes 

[3] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

and  some  rifles.  Their  canoes  were  staunch  lit- 
tle ships  dug  out  of  one  solid  tree,  each  capable 
of  carrying  fifteen  men  and  their  belongings. 

Most  of  the  people  of  the  village  were  deeply 
interested  in  the  war  preparations  of  Konawok 
and  the  men  of  his  little  navy.  All  wanted  a 
voice,  if  not  a  hand,  in  the  matter.  Talk  is  so 
cheap  that  most  any  one  is  ready  to  volunteer 
the  use  of  his  tongue  if  not  his  hand. 

The  members  of  other  tribes  than  Konawok 's 
were  secretly  glad  to  see  the  proud  Kokwontons 
(the  name  of  his  tribe,  and  the  most  powerful 
and  haughty  one  of  the  community)  laboring 
under  their  humiliation.  Among  themselves 
they  chuckled  over  the  affair  and  took  a  large 
slice  of  satisfaction  out  of  it. 

Jealousy  is  one  of  the  prominent  traits  of 
these  natives.  Inferior  tribes,  therefore,  were 
not  sorry  when  their  stronger  neighbors  were 
annoyed  and  humiliated. 

"H'm!  they  put  all  the  blame,"  said  one, 
"on  Gissaoosh.  What  about  their  own  deceit- 
ful sly  fox,  Kosteen?  See  how  she  has  tricked 
Hochaga,  her  husband?  They'd  better  give  her 
some  of  the  credit  of  the  shameful  affair." 

1 1  Indeed  they  had, ' '  replied  another.  *  *  Don 't 
I  know  her?  I'm  sure  she  required  no  great 

[4] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

amount  of  coaxing  to  run  away  as  she  did. 
She's  all  too  fond  of  the  men,  I  assure  you. 
Her  share,  I'll  warrant,  is  fully  one-half.  And 
who's  to  pay  for  Hochaga's  injury?  Konawok 
and  his  kin  are  not  worrying  much  about  that, 
are  they?  But  mark  me,  somebody  will  have  to 
pay;  for  no  Thlinget  is  injured  for  nothing.  I 
fancy  that  Hochaga's  people  will  have  a  reck- 
oning with  his  wily  wife's  tribe.  And  then  it 
will  be  Konawok 's  brood's  turn  to  squeal." 


[6] 


CHAPTER  II 

HOCHAGA,  the  husband  of  Kosteen,  showed  a 
stolid  indifference  to  his  wife's  elopement.  His 
pride  would  not  allow  him  to  betray  the  slight- 
est concern  for  her.  It  would  be  her  tribe's 
business  to  rectify  his  wrong.  He  and  his  tribe 
would  have  to  be  paid  heavily  for  the  insult 
and  shame  they  were  obliged  to  endure  through 
Kosteen 's  folly.  This  was  one  reason  why 
Kosteen 's  people  expected  to  levy  a  heavy  fine 
on  the  Wrangellites  for  Gissaoosh's  offense. 
The  blankets  and  money  they  obtained  at 
Wrangell  would  be  used  to  heal  the  sore  in 
Hochaga  and  his  people's  hearts. 

Gissaoosh  and  Kosteen  knew  very  well  what 
trouble  would  brew  over  their  elopement.  But 
their  hasty  passion  for  each  other  did  not  stop 
for  consequences. 

It  is  a  trait  of  this  people  to  gratify  present 
desires  regardless  of  consequences.  They  live 
nearly  altogether  for  the  present  and  let  the 
future  take  care  of  itself.  So  in  many  instances 
they  sacrifice  the  future  to  the  time  being.  Gis- 
saoosh and  Kosteen  willingly  did  this. 

[6] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

In  order  not  to  be  seen  they  traveled  by 
night.  The  second  day  of  their  elopement,  feel- 
ings of  remorse  seized  Kosteen.  But  she 
smothered  her  feelings,  as  she  did  not  wish 
Gissaoosh  to  detect  anything  like  repentance 
of  her  folly. 

''Gissaoosh,  when  will  we  reach  Wrangell?" 
she  asked.  "I  fear  we  are  pursued.  If  so,  and 
we're  caught,  it  will  go  hard  with  us." 

"If  the  weather  favors  us,"  he  answered, 
"three  nights  from  this  we'll  see  her  lights. 
But  don't  fear,  Kosteen.  We're  well  in  the 
lead  of  any  pursuers.  Besides,  they  don't  know 
what  course  we've  taken." 

"What  is  that  skirting  yonder  shore?"  in- 
quired Kosteen,  pointing  to  the  opposite  side 
of  the  channel. 

Gissaoosh  looked  and  saw  a  canoe  moving 
rapidly  along  the  opposite  shore. 

' '  Put  out  the  fire ! "  he  commanded. 

Kosteen  grabbed  a  pail  of  water  near  by  and 
with  it  instantly  extinguished  the  camp  fire. 

They  breathlessly  ^watched  the  canoe  in  the 
distance.  They  were  well  hidden  from  the  view 
of  any  passing  by,  yet  ready  to  flee  back  into  the 
dense  wood  had  the  canoe  headed  in  their  direc- 

[7] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

tion.  They  watched  the  passing  canoe  until  it 
was  out  of  sight. 

The  waterways  of  southeastern  Alaska  are  a 
dream.  Their  scenic  features  are  probably  un- 
excelled anywhere  in  the  world.  Her  long  deep 
straits  and  channels,  sometimes  wide  and  some- 
times narrow,  are  like  vast  mirrors  at  times, 
reflecting  the  stately,  snowcapped  mountains 
which  rise  like  gigantic  sentinels  along  their 
winding  shores.  Then  again  they  are  like  vast 
boiling  caldrons  when  lashed  into  fury  by  the 
storms.  These,  and  her  charming  bays,  are 
studded  with  beautiful  islands  clothed  with 
evergreen.  Here  and  there  the  awe-inspiring 
glaciers,  vast  and  mighty  inclines  of  solid  ice, 
carved  and  turreted  by  the  great  Architect, 
present  their  fascinating  ponderosity.  Innu- 
merable waterfalls,  like  serpentine  snowy  rib- 
bons, trail  themselves  down  the  green-carpeted 
mountain  sides,  leaping  like  frisky  lambs  from 
ledge  to  ledge.  Varied  indeed  is  the  scenery, 
giving  the  traveler  new  visions  of  beauty  on 
every  turn. 

It  was  along  one  of  these  charming  highways 
that  the  much-dreaded  canoe,  first  sighted  by 
Kosteen,  kept  on  its  course. 

When  relieved  of  fear  Gissaoosh  said:    "If 

[8] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

these  clouds  break,  and  I  think  they  will,  for  I 
feel  the  breath  of  the  north  wind,  we'll  have 
the  moon  to  smile  on  us  tonight;  and  with  the 
tide  and  moon  favoring  us,  we'll  make  a  long 
stretch  toward  Wrangell,  our  refuge.  Then  if 
your  people  come  to  tear  you  away  from  me 
there'll  be  trouble.  Kosteen,  you  look  pale  for 
one  of  our  color.  Does  your  heart  sicken  at 
what  I  have  suggested?  or  do  you  repent  of 
your  action  for  having  run  away  with  me?" 

"No,  Gissaoosh,  I  do  not  repent;  for  my 
passion  for  you  has  not  burned  out  so  soon. 
But  I  pale  at  the  thought  of  what  may  result 
from  my  folly  with  you.  You  know  the  ways  of 
our  people.  What  I  have  done  my  husband's 
people  will  regard  as  a  great  shame  to  them, 
and  they  will  make  trouble,  much  trouble,  for 
my  people.  My  people  will  blame  you,  and  they 
will  make  much  trouble  for  your  people.  Why 
did  we  think  of  ourselves  only  in  this  matter?" 

"A  passion  such  as  ours,  Kosteen,  though 
born  in  a  day,  does  not  stop  to  argue  such  nice 
points.  Those  seized  with  the  true,  burning 
passion  of  love,  do  not  weigh  consequences.  Two 
souls  so  kindled  by  each  other,  seek,  at  all  haz- 
ards, the  companionship  of  each.  Sometimes 
they  pay  dearly  for  it,  but  then  the  best  things 

[9] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

of  life,  you  know,  always  cost  the  most.  How- 
ever, Kosteen,  don't  let  your  mind  dwell  on 
that  phase  of  our  elopement.  We  will  live  and 
love  as  though  we  are  the  only  two  in  the 
world. ' ' 

Kosteen  readily  fell  in  with  the  humor  of  Gis- 
saoosh,  though  she  realized  there  is  always  bit- 
ter with  the  sweet  and  thorns  with  the  rose. 

As  the  sun  dipped  toward  the  horizon,  the 
sombre  curtains  of  the  sky  parted.  Rifts  here 
and  there  exposed  patches  of  blue  and  indicated 
a  clear  night  would  follow.  The  sun  set  in  a 
majesty  which  pen  nor  tongue  could  never  de- 
scribe. The  water  for  miles  glittered  in  its 
golden  reflection.  As  the  glorious  orb  was  dis- 
appearing from  their  vision,  Gissaoosh  and 
Kosteen  partook  of  their  frugal  evening  meal 
of  dried  salmon,  oil  and  berries. 

There  was  no  table  to  clear  nor  dishes  to 
wash  after  this  meal  in  the  primeval  forest,  and 
as  the  twilight  stole  softly  over  the  land  the 
two  boarded  their  canoe  and  were  soon  deftly 
dipping  their  paddles  into  the  briny  deep,  send- 
ing their  little  craft  along  as  though  it  were 
gliding  through  a  sea  of  oil. 

Kosteen,  as  captain,  occupied  the  stern  of  the 
yak  and  Gissaoosh  the  prow.  (It  is  a  common 

[10] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

custom  with  this  people  for  the  women  to  steer 
the  canoe.)  As  they  traveled  along,  their  keen 
eyes  pierced  the  semi-darkness,  and  their  keen 
ears  distinguished  every  sound,  as  they  were 
on  the  alert  for  the  approach  of  human  beings. 

Three  hours  had  sped  away  when  they  came 
to  a  large  body  of  water  they  were  obliged  to 
cross.  Although  there  was  an  ocean  swell  on, 
it  was  as  smooth  as  a  mirror.  Nothing  daunted, 
they  plunged  the  prow  of  their  canoe  into  the 
broad  expanse.  It  required  at  least  three  hours 
of  strong,  steady  paddling  to  cross  this  body  of 
water  under  favorable  circumstances.  They 
had  been  scarcely  an  hour  out  on  this  open  sea 
when  threatening  clouds  were  making  up  in  the 
south.  Gissaoosh  was  weather  prophet  enough 
to  see  that  a  storm  was  brewing  such  as  makes 
up  very  quickly  over  Alaskan  waters.  But  he 
did  not  care  to  retreat  and  hoped  it  would  not 
burst  upon  them  before  they  had  reached  the 
opposite  shore. 

"Kosteen,  the  weather  is  threatening,'*  he 
said.  ''These  paddles  must  move  swifter  if  we 
would  make  yonder  shore  before  the  tempest 
bursts  upon  us." 

In  less  than  an  hour  after  these  remarks,  the 
wind  had  freshened  and  was  blowing  strongly. 

[Ill 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

It  increased  more  and  more  until  they  realized 
they  were  buffeting  a  gale.  The  dark  clouds 
obscured  somewhat  the  light  of  the  moon  and 
the  waves  gathered  in  height  moment  by  mo- 
ment. Still,  with  heroic  courage  they  pressed 
on.  The  rain  pelted  them  unmercifully.  It 
was  a  struggle  and  a  peril,  but  they  won  and 
felt  themselves  the  stronger  for  it. 

As  they  came  under  the  shelter  of  the  shore 
they  had  so  long  and  arduously  pulled  for  and 
realized  they  were  safe,  Kosteen  said:  "I'm 
thankful  we're  across  at  last.  Another  mile 
and  I'd  be  done  for." 

"It  was  a  hard  contest,  Kosteen,  and  you  did 
your  part  splendidly.  The  light  in  the  east  be- 
speaks the  approach  of  day,  and  we'll  now  go 
into  camp." 

They  paddled  along  the  shore  until  they  saw 
a  suitable  place  to  sojourn.  Shortly  after  es- 
tablishing their  camp,  they  heard  a  crackling 
in  the  bushes.  Instinctively  Gissaoosh  grabbed 
his  rifle.  After  a  moment's  investigation,  he 
discovered  a  big  brown  bear  (hootz,  in  the 
native  tongue.  Seeg  is  the  black  bear).  He 
took  aim,  fired  and  wounded  it  in  the  shoulder. 
Infuriated  at  this  attack,  the  animal  rushed  at 
his  assailant.  Gissaoosh  fired  a  second  shot, 

[12] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

this  time  piercing  the  ear  of  the  mad  creature. 
The  next  moment  the  bear  was  challenging  him 
with  a  hand-to-hand  conflict.  Kosteen,  seeing 
the  seriousness  of  the  situation,  seized  a  long, 
sharp  butcher-knife  and  rushed  to  participate 
in  the  struggle.  The  bear  had  already  dis- 
armed Gissaoosh  of  his  rifle  and  had  reared 
again  to  strike  him  a  blow  that  would  have 
certainly  killed  him,  when  Kosteen  stealthily 
and  as  quickly  as  a  panther,  sprang  and  plunged 
the  deadly  knife  completely  through  the  heart 
of  the  brute.  With  an  agonized  groan,  he  reeled 
and  fell  over  dead. 

Gissaoosh  was  as  pale  as  death  and,  for  a 
moment,  gazed  with  astonished  admiration  on 
his  companion. 

"Kosteen,  you're  the  greatest  of  women!" 
he  exclaimed.  "You  have  saved  my  life. 
You're  even  braver  than  any  of  the  sons  of 
Yalkth."  (The  large  imaginary  bird  of  the 
crow  species  which  the  natives  regard  as 
the  creator  of  all  things.)  "Forever  shall  I 
love  and  admire  you.  If  now  all  the  people  of 
Sitka  come,  they  cannot  have  you  back  till  they 
have  shed  the  last  drop  of  Wrangell  blood ;  for 
when  I  tell  my  people  of  your  heroic  deed,  they 
too  will  admire  you  and  fight  to  keep  you  mine. " 

[13] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

Kosteen,  with  becoming  modesty,  received 
this  warm  commendation  without  reply. 

It  was  'a  narrow  escape  for  Gissaoosh,  but  a 
lucky  killing  for  them.  It  furnished  them  a 
plentiful  supply  of  meat  and  the  fur  was  very 
useful  to  them. 

They  reached  Wrangell  a  night  later  than 
Gissaoosh  had  predicted  on  account  of  the 
storm. 


[14] 


CHAPTER  III 

THE  fifth  day  after  Konawok  had  enjoined 
his  men  to  prepare  to  go  to  Wrangell,  all  were 
ready.  Only  the  bravest  and  stoutest  were 
allowed  to  enlist  in  this  enterprise.  There  were 
thirty-five  in  all.  Much  excitement  prevailed 
as  they  were  preparing  for  their  departure. 
The  people  gathered  to  see  them  off,  and  did 
not  leave  the  beach  until  they  had  pulled  out  of 
sight. 

While  Konawok  and  his  men  were  on  their 
way,  the  arrival  of  Gissaoosh  and  Kosteen 
created  a  sensation  among  the  Wrangellites. 
When  they  heard  how  the  brave  woman  had 
dispatched  a  bear  with  a  knife,  they  regarded 
her  with  great  admiration.  The  tribe  of  Gis- 
saoosh were  proud  of  such  an  acquisition  to 
their  family.  They  were  not  inclined  to  con- 
sider the  disgrace  attaching  to  the  woman  for 
eloping  with  another  after  her  wonderful  ex- 
ploit. When  told  by  Gissaoosh  that  some  Kok- 
wontons  would  probably  come  and  demand 
Kosteen  to  be  given  up  to  them,  they  replied 
that  they  would  fight  to  keep  her. 

[15] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

The  Wrangellites  knew  that  they  were 
weaker  than  the  Sitkans,  and  in  open  combat, 
with  any  number  of  them,  would  be  worsted. 
They  must  resort  to  strategy  in  order  to  cope 
with  so  formidable  an  enemy. 

The  leader  of  the  tribe  of  Gissaoosh,  instead 
of  deprecating  the  action  of  his  tribesman  for 
eloping  with  another  man's  wife,  palliated  and 
condoned  it.  In  his  harangue  he  exhorted  them 
to  be  loyal  to  their  brother. 

"My  children,"  said  the  chief,  "if  any  num- 
ber of  the  Kokwontons  come,  we  must  be  cun- 
ning enough  to  outwit  them,  in  order  to  get  the 
better  of  them.  If  few  come,  we  can  ignore 
their  demands.  We  will  wait,  therefore,  and 
see  how  many  come,  if  they  come  at  all,  before 
we  plan  what  to  do.  We  must,  however,  make 
a  goodly  lot  of  hoochinoo  (a  native  whiskey), 
for  if  many  come  this  will  be  our  chief  means  of 
defeating  them.  We  will  pretend  to  be  very 
hospitable  and,  when  we  have  them  under  the 
spell  of  our  fire-water,  we  can  dispatch  them 
with  ease.  Their  appetite  for  fire-water  is  such 
that  they  cannot  resist  it,  nor  would  they  think 
of  offering  us  insult  by  refusing  our  hospitality. 
So  they  will  fall  readily  into  our  trap.  Have  no 
fears,  as  we  '11  more  than  match  them. ' ' 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

These  ignoble  suggestions  met  with  a  hearty 
approval  from  the  members  of  the  chief 's  tribe. 

As  was  anticipated,  the  Sitkans  in  due  time 
arrived  at  Wrangell.  As  the  canoes  approached 
the  village,  they  drew  up  in  friendly  array 
along  the  beach.  Konawok,  the  chief  of  the 
visitors,  before  any  of  his  people  disembarked, 
addressed  the  Wrangellites  in  friendly  terms, 
stating  that  he  and  his  people  had  come  to  make 
them  a  friendly  visit. 

This  address  was  replied  to  by  the  chief  of 
Gissaoosh's  tribe.  It  was  an  address  of  wel- 
come. These  formalities  over,  the  Sitkans  dis- 
embarked and  proceeded  with  their  personal 
effects  to  the  houses  where  they  were  to  be 
entertained. 

When  the  Thlingets  of  one  village  go  to  at- 
tend a  feast  or  potlatch  at  another,  their 
arrival  is  made  very  spectacular.  The  larger 
the  feast,  and  the  more  important  the  giver, 
the  more  of  pomp  and  display.  The  fleet  of 
canoes,  decorated  with  flags  and  banners,  are 
lined  up  in  front  of  the  village  their  occupants 
are  visiting,  and  formal  speeches  made  by  their 
leading  men.  They  are  received  and  welcomed 
with  customary  ceremony.  Such  an  event  is  a 
gala  day  for  the  whole  village. 

[17] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

The  Sitkans,  pretending  they  were  on  a 
friendly  visit  to  the  Wrangellites,  observed,  on 
a  small  scale,  such  formalities.  But  the  latter 
were  not  deceived;  they  knew  very  well  the 
purpose  of  their  visit. 

It  is  customary  with  the  natives  of  this  coun- 
try to  beat  about  the  bush  before  coming  to  the 
point.  So  the  Sitkans  did  not  abruptly  make 
known  the  intent  of  their  visit  and  at  once  chal- 
lenge the  Wrangellites  as  soon  as  they  saw 
them.  It  was  not  until  the  second  day  after 
their  arrival  that  they  began  to  hint  the  purpose 
of  their  visit.  The  Wrangell  people  knew  very 
well  when  the  storm  began  to  brew. 

It  was  finally  charged  that  one  of  their  men 
had  come  to  Sitka  and  there  committed  a  very 
serious  offense.  They  were  deliberately  told 
how  Gissaoosh  had  inveigled  Kosteen,  who  was 
the  wife  of  another,  into  running  away  with 
him.  Its  atrocity  was  greatly  emphasized. 
Said  Konawok  with  rising  energy:  "Your  man 
has  given  us  great  shame.  According  to  our 
custom,  we  demand  that  you  wipe  out  this 
shame  by  paying  us  five  hundred  blankets  and 
two  hundred  dollars,  and  Kosteen  must  return 
with  us  to  her  rightful  husband." 

The  Wrangellites  hung  their  heads  in  mock 

[18] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

sorrow  at  this  demand  and  began  to  parley  with 
their  visitors. 

"We  cannot,"  said  their  spokesman,  "feel 
that  Gissaoosh  was  to  blame  in  this  unfortunate 
affair.  Your  daughter's  seductive  charms  and 
her  willing  consent  to  go  with  Gissaoosh,  make 
her  responsible.  Besides,  she  is  married,  and 
he  is  not.  She,  therefore,  is  more  to  blame.  So 
we  cannot  see  how  you  may  justly  make  such 
a  demand  of  us  as  you  have. ' ' 

"Gissaoosh  came  to  our  place,"  answered 
Konawok,  "made  love  to  our  daughter  and  in- 
duced her  to  run  off  with  him.  Had  he  not 
come,  she  would  not  have  been  tempted.  So  we 
feel  that  he  has  given  us  great  shame.  This  dis- 
honor must  be  wiped  out  by  you  paying  us  what 
we  demand." 

The  Wrangellites  pretended  to  demur  at  this, 
and,  after  some  quiet  consultation  with  one 
another,  their  spokesman  said:  "We  concede 
that  you  are  right.  Gissaoosh  has  brought  us 
great  trouble.  We  are  sorry.  We  will  treat 
you  right,  our  friends.  Tomorrow  we  will  go  to 
the  river  and  there  enjoy  ourselves,  and  we  will 
make  such  reparation  as  we  can  to  you  for  the 
dishonor  which  you  have  suffered." 

Konawok  and  his -people,  not  perceiving  the 

[19] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

treachery  lurking  in  this  proposition,  received 
it  gladly. 

That  night  the  Wrangellites  laid  their  plans 
for  entrapping  the  unwary  Sitkans. 

The  next  morning  the  weather  was  serene 
and  charming.  Very  early  the  people  were  up 
and  astir.  Business  of  importance  demanded 
their  attention.  Nothing  is  more  important  to 
the  native  than  feasting,  and  all  enter  into  it 
with  a  zest.  For  some  time  they  were  busy  in 
carrying  things  to  their  canoes  for  the  pre- 
tended jollification.  Not  only  was  a  large  quan- 
tity of  hoochinoo  put  into  their  canoes,  but  two 
or  three  of  their  rude  stills  with  which  to  manu- 
facture more  on  the  grounds.  Every  one  wore 
a  happy  countenance,  smiled  and  cracked  jokes 
as  though  no  treachery  lurked  amongst  them. 
The  Wrangellites  were  consummate  actors  in 
hiding  completely  their  feelings  and  designs. 
The  Sitkans,  strange  to  say,  suspected  no 
treachery.  They  flattered  themselves  that  their 
superiority  had  cowed  the  tribe  of  Gissaoosh 
into  submission.  Little  did  they  realize  they 
were  going  to  their  doom.  Though,  like  their 
race,  they  were  naturally  very  suspicious  and 
distrustful,  yet,  so  cunning  was  the  acting  of 
their  enemies,  so  accurately  did  they  imitate 

[20] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

the  gracious  host,  the  visitors  mistrusted  no 
evil.  To  show  themselves  smart  enough  to  en- 
trap the  shrewd  and  haughty  Kokwontons,  to 
beat  them  at  their  own  game,  to  humiliate  them, 
would  redound,  the  Wrangellites  thought,  to 
their  glory. 

All  were  happy  and  merry  as  they  proceeded 
to  the  river  where  they  were  to  spend  a  festive 
day.  Not  a  gloomy  countenance  was  to  be  seen 
in  the  entire  party.  Faces  were  wreathed  in 
smiles,  and  laughter  in  response  to  witticisms 
echoed  over  the  still  waters.  Festive  songs, 
sung  to  the  rhythmic  accompaniment  of  the  dip 
of  the  paddles,  were  happy  features  of  the 
journey.  The  anticipation  of  a  glorious  day  lit 
up  every  countenance.  The  Sitkans  had,  in 
addition  to  the  prospect  of  having  a  grand 
orgie,  visions  of  blankets  and  money.  Bright 
indeed  with  promise  was  the  day  for  them. 

Arrived  at  the  spot  where  there  was  to  be  so 
much  high  hilarity,  preparations  for  a  joyful 
day  were  begun.  The  strong  fire-water  was 
soon  passed  to  the  visitors  and  the  whiskey- 
stills  were  set  in  motion.  The  product  of  these 
stills  is  one  of  the  vilest  potations  known  to 
man.  Potatoes  and  black  molasses  are  the 
principal  ingredients.  The  concoction  resulting 

[21] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

from  this  brew  maddens  and  then  paralyzes  the 
drinker. 

The  Wrangellites,  knowing  the  game,  drank 
sparingly  of  the  beverage  —  just  enough  to 
nerve  them  to  the  bloody  deed  they  had  in  con- 
templation. The  visitors,  under  the  guise  of 
hospitality,  were  urged  to  drink  heavily.  Once 
their  appetites  were  whetted,  they  needed  no 
urging  to  show  their  appreciation  as  guests. 
Liquor  was  their  summum  bonum.  They  drank 
so  heavily  and  constantly  that  the  first  effect 
of  the  brew,  to  craze,  was  scarcely  reached  when 
the  drinkers  passed  into  the  paralyzing  stage. 
Here  and  there  they  lay  as  senseless  logs.  This 
was  the  moment  for  the  treacherous  Wrangell- 
ites. They  arose  and  put  them  to  the  knife, 
butchering  them  to  the  last  man.  It  was  a 
frightful  slaughter,  some  of  them  being  literally 
cut  to  pieces.  The  scene  can  better  be  imagined 
than  described. 


[22] 


CHAPTER  IV 

WHEN  the  news  of  the  massacre  reached 
Sitka,  the  people  of  that  village  were  horrified. 
Great  lamentation  and  weeping  went  up  from 
the  homes  of  the  Kokwontons.  They  were  wild 
with  excitement  and  greatly  exercised  as  to 
the  speediest  and  most  summary  way  in  which 
they  could  avenge  their  slain.  Various  meas- 
ures were  discussed,  but  it  was  very  wisely 
determined  they  would  do  nothing  at  present; 
that  they  would  hide  their  feeling  in  the  matter, 
pretend  they  were  indifferent  and  had  accepted 
the  butchery  as  a  matter  of  course. 

Months  passed  away  and  even  years,  yet  no 
notice  was  taken  of  the  massacre,  so  far  as 
seeking  revenge  was  concerned.  But  the  boys 
of  the  Kokwontons  budding  into  manhood  were, 
during  those  months  of  silence,  told  over  and 
over  of  the  dastardly  treachery  of  the  Wran- 
gellites  and  of  their  duty  to  avenge  the  blood  of 
their  fathers. 

One  stalwart  youth  especially  was  impressed 
with  what  a  duty  he  owed  his  people  to  avenge 
the  killing  of  their  fathers.  He  vowed  that  he 

[23] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

would  exercise  and  exercise  until  he  developed 
himself  into  a  veritable  Hercules  and  then  he 
would  copiously  shed  the  blood  of  Wrangellites. 
So  in  the  winter  Sloonoohah,  when  the  ther- 
mometer dropped  to  zero  and  the  snow  covered 
the  ground  at  a  depth  of  three  or  four  feet, 
would  bare  his  back  and,  with  axe  on  his  shoul- 
der, trudge  off  into  the  forest,  cut  back  loads  of 
wood  and  pack  it  through  the  snow  to  his  home. 
It  was  a  difficult  task,  and  one  which  required 
great  fortitude.  But  the  youth  was  determined 
to  make  himself  strong  and  hardy  that  he  might 
fight  valiantly  for  his  people. 

A  common  toughening  process  was  to  strip 
on  a  cold  winter  day  and  plunge  naked  into  the 
ice-cold  water  of  the  bay.  Then,  after  flounder- 
ing around  in  the  water  for  some  minutes,  he 
would  come  out  and  wallow  naked  in  the  snow. 
Then,  after  wallowing  in  the  snow,  he  would 
switch  his  naked  body  until  it  intensely  glowed 
and  burned.  Sloonoohah  subjected  himself  to 
this  severe  treatment  frequently  until  his  body 
became  almost  impervious  to  cold. 

He  would  go  on  long  and  difficult  hunts  for 
the  bear,  climbing  the  rugged  mountains  until 
the  sinews  of  his  legs  became  as  iron ;  and  pack 

[24] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

heavy  quarters  of  the  bear  until  his  back  would 
bear  incredible  loads. 

To  develop  courage  and  fearlessness,  he 
would  attack  the  savage  cinnamon  bear  under 
most  unfavorable  circumstances  to  himself.  In 
short,  he  practiced  every  manner  of  hardy  exer- 
cise until  he  was  powerfully  developed. 

While  he  was  thus  preparing  himself  to 
wreak  vengeance  on  the  Wrangellites,  they 
were  flattering  themselves  that  the  Sitkans  did 
not  intend  to  avenge  the  murder  of  their  people. 

Thus  encouraged,  one  family  of  the  Wran- 
gellites made  bold  to  go  to  Sitka  to  trade  and 
bring  back  the  much-coveted  crab-apples  which 
grew  there.  They  felt  somewhat  uncertain 
about  what  kind  of  treatment  they  would  meet 
with  at  the  hands  of  the  Sitkans;  still  they 
ventured.  Their  fears  were  entirely  dispelled 
when,  on  their  arrival,  they  met  with  kind  treat- 
ment. They  were  paid  good  prices  for  what 
they  had  to  sell,  and  were  asked  low  prices  for 
what  they  wished  to  buy.  They  were,  also, 
treated  very  hospitably  so  long  as  they  re- 
mained at  Sitka. 

This  was  all  done  as  a  blind  to  make  them  be- 
lieve that  the  Kokwontons  held  no  grievance 
against  their  people,  and  have  them  go  back 

[25] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

home  and  make  a  favorable  report  concerning 
the  friendly  relations  of  their  northern  neigh- 
bors. The  deceit  was  a  complete  success,  as 
the  visiting  family  really  thought  that  the  peo- 
ple of  Sitka  harbored  no  ill-will  toward  their 
people. 

So,  when  they  returned  home,  they  gave  a 
most  favorable  report  of  their  visit;  of  the 
good  prices  paid  for  their  wares ;  of  the  cheap 
prices  asked  for  what  they  wanted,  and  of  the 
kindness  of  the  people. 

Owing  to  these  very  favorable  reports,  two 
canoe  loads  of  Wrangellites  went  to  Sitka  to 
sell  and  to  purchase.  The  Sitkans  saw  from 
this  that  the  bait  thrown  out  the  previous  sum- 
mer had  not  been  thrown  in  vain.  Still  they 
would  not  strike  their  blow  of  vengeance  on 
these.  There  were  too  few  of  them  to  offset 
the  number  they  had  lost  in  the  Wrangell  mas- 
sacre. So  they  would  wait  patiently  their  time 
when  they  could  kill  and  pay  back  with  interest 
the  Wrangellites  for  their  treachery. 

These  visitors,  or  traders,  were  treated  with 
the  same  kindness  and  consideration  as  were 
the  family  the  previous  summer.  Good  prices 
were  paid  for  what  they  had  to  sell,  and  what 
they  desired  to  buy  was  sold  to  them  very 

[26] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

cheaply.  Gifts,  too,  were  bestowed  upon  them, 
and  they  were  feasted  and  royally  treated.  Not 
the  slightest  allusion  or  reference  (so  careful 
were  the  Kokwontons  to  hide  their  feelings) 
was  made  to  the  massacre  by  any  of  them.  The 
burning  feeling  for  revenge  in  their  bosoms 
was  most  adroitly  smothered.  The  traders 
were  very  cunningly  given  the  impression  that 
they  held  no  resentment  against  their  people 
whatever. 

When  they  returned  home  they  gave  glowing 
reports  of  their  visit.  When  they  showed  the 
purchases  which  they  had  gotten  so  cheaply, 
the  money  they  had  received  from  their  sales 
and  their  gifts,  the  cupidity  of  the  rest  of  the 
population  was  aroused,  and  many  more  re- 
solved that  they  would  try  it  the  next  summer. 

All  were,  indeed,  surprised  at  the  conduct  of 
the  Sitkans,  whom  they  naturally  supposed 
would  hate  them  for  the  murdering  of  their 
people.  The  only  reason  they  could  assign  for 
such  unexpected  treatment  was  that  the  mas- 
sacre was  so  summary  and  startling  that  the 
Sitkans  were  subdued  with  fear ;  and  their  kind 
treatment  to  the  visiting  people  was  one  of  con- 
ciliation and  propitiation  to  obtain  the  good 
will  of  so  dangerous  a  people. 

[27] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

This  construction  of  the  conduct  of  the  Sit- 
kans  served  to  embolden  the  Wrangellites  to 
try  their  fortune  with  their  northern  neighbors 
on  a  larger  scale.  So  the  following  summer  a 
company  of  them  numbering  forty-five  made 
their  way  to  Sitka  to  barter  and  enrich  them- 
selves. They  flattered  themselves  that  they  had 
found  easy  game.  They  started  out  jubilantly 
and  each  time  they  made  camp,  as  they  were 
obliged  to  do,  they  talked  and  boasted  how  they 
would  return  loaded  with  plunder  such  as  they 
coveted. 

On  their  arrival  at  Sitka,  they  were  most 
cordially  welcomed.  This,  strange  to  say,  in- 
stead of  arousing  their  suspicions,  won  their 
confidence.  We  would  naturally  suppose  that, 
since  they  had  played  the  game  of  treachery  in 
a  similar  way  to  entrap  the  Sitkans,  they  would 
have  been  suspicious  of  such  flattering  treat- 
ment. 

But  when  will  man  learn  that  he  is  generally 
paid  back  in  his  own  coin  1  that  the  evil  chickens 
he  hatches  will  some  day  come  home  to  roost  ? 

So  these  people  of  Wrangell  deluded  them- 
selves with  the  idea  that  they  would  escape  any 
such  treatment  as  they  had  meted  out  to  the 
Sitkans.  "With  what  measure  ye  meet,  it 

[28] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

shall  be  meted  unto  you,"  did  not  apply  to 
them,  of  course.  So  we  all  reason.  But  let 
Haman  look  out  when  he  is  erecting  a  gallows 
for  Mordecai  that  he  does  not  get  his  own  neck 
stretched  on  it. 

The  Sitkans  threw  their  homes  open  to  the 
Wrangellites  and  showed  them  every  hospi- 
tality they  would  a  favored  guest. 

They  proposed  to  the  visitors  that  before 
any  trading  was  done  a  grand  dance  be  given 
in  their  honor.  This  honor  was  cheerfully  ac- 
cepted by  the  unsuspecting  Wrangellites.  They 
could  not  refuse  without  giving  offense.  This 
they  scrupulously  avoided  as  they  desired  to 
keep  on  good  terms  with  the  people  for  the  com- 
mercial advantage  they  derived  from  it,  as  well 
as  not  to  arouse  them  to  retaliate  for  past 
injuries. 

But  it  was  the  Sitkans '  hour  for  revenge,  and 
the  plot  for  the  utter  destruction  of  the  Wran- 
gellites was  thickening  every  moment.  The 
plans  for  their  summary  execution  had  been 
carefully  laid. 

A  large  communal  house,  with  a  large  fire-pit 
in  the  center  and  an  aperture  in  the  top  for 
the  egress  of  the  smoke,  was  selected  for  the 
dance.  To  enter  one  of  these  houses,  you 

[29] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

ascended  a  flight  of  stairs  on  the  outside  and 
descended  a  flight  on  the  inside.  It  consists  of 
one  large  room,  having  a  ledge  about  four  feet 
high  and  six  feet  wide  around  the  entire  room. 
This  ledge  is  used  as  a  dormitory  and  to  hold 
the  belongings  of  those  living  in  the  house. 
From  six  to  a  dozen  families  occupy  this  room. 
There  is  little  or  no  privacy  maintained  in  one 
of  these  lodges.  There  is  some  pretension  to 
it  by  some  who  have  a  sense  of  modesty  by 
hanging  up  a  curtain  or  two  of  drilling  to  parti- 
tion themselves  off  from  others  for  sleeping 
and  dressing  purposes.  But  it  affords  little 
protection  from  the  gaze  of  any  and  none  from 
the  hearing.  The  large,  square  depression  in 
the  center  of  the  room  is  ordinarily  used  for 
cooking,  and  is  a  favorite  loafing  place  beside 
the  big  log  fire.  But  on  festive  occasions  the 
space  is  needed  for  the  dancers.  First  the 
members  of  one  tribe  dance  and  then  members 
of  the  other.  They  dance  to  see  who  can  excel. 
They  dress  for  the  occasion  in  private  houses, 
and,  when  all  are  ready,  they  march  to  the 
dance-house  at  the  beat  of  the  native  drum,  a 
rude  instrument  made  of  deerskin  stretched 
over  a  round  hoop  about  four  inches  deep.  It 

[30] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

\ 

is  beat  as  we  beat  the  bass  drum.  The  per- 
formers are  dressed  in  as  fantastic  a  manner 
as  they  can  contrive,  each  according  to  his  own 
taste,  and  no  two  precisely  alike.  Some  of  their 
costumes  are  very  costly.  Their  headgear  is 
generally  peculiar  and  grotesque.  Their  faces 
are  hideously  painted.  Men,  women  and  chil- 
dren dance  together  in  the  same  set.  The  danc- 
ing does  not  consist  in  whirling  about  the  room, 
male  and  female  locked  in  each  other 's  embrace, 
as  we  find  in  civilized,  polite  society. 

The  dancers  stand  packed  close  together  in 
pell-mell  style,  and  the  feet  are  not  moved.  The 
dancing  consists  of  rhythmic  motions  of  the 
arms,  head  and  body,  accompanied  with  a  weird 
chanting  and  beating  of  the  drum.  These  mo- 
tions are  not  very  unlike  a  drill  in  calisthenics. 
But  the  masqued  faces  and  grotesque  costumes 
give  the  dance  more  the  appearance  of  a  grand 
masquerade  than  anything  else  with  which  we 
may  compare  it.  Here  and  there  some  genius 
has  a  headgear  filled  with  loose  particles  of 
eagle's  down;  and,  jerking  his  head  violently 
from  time  to  time,  fills  the  air  like  a  snowstorm. 
Notwithstanding  the  many  ludicrous  objects 
and  actions  one  sees  in  these  dances,  hilarity 

[31] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

and  merriment  are  kept  down;  as  they  are  re- 
garded as  serious  business. 

This,  then,  was  the  sort  of  pastime  these 
Wrangellites  were  invited  to  participate  in  for 
the  advantage  of  the  Sitkans. 


[32] 


CHAPTER  V 

THE  evening  set  for  the  dance  was  very  pro- 
pitious. The  visiting  tribe  was  given  the  place 
of  honor;  that  is,  to  dance  first.  While  they 
were  out  preparing  for  the  dance,  which  con- 
sisted in  painting  their  faces  and  adjusting 
their  costumes,  the  Sitkans,  as  cautiously  as 
possible,  were  preparing  to  fall  upon  them 
when  in  the  midst  of  the  dance  and  put  the  last 
one  to  the  knife.  The  Wrangellites  being 
wholly  unarmed  and  hampered  in  their  dancing 
accoutrements  were  entirely  at  their  mercy. 
The  avengers  purposed  to  show  no  mercy,  but 
to  dispatch  the  last  one  of  them  if  possible. 
They  had  an  old  score  to  settle  which  for 
months  had  been  bearing  interest.  Leniency  in 
such  affairs  was  no  part  of  their  code.  They 
were  thirsting  for  blood,  and  they  did  not  pro- 
pose to  use  gentle  hands  in  causing  it  to  flow. 

Sloonoohah,  the  young  warrior  who  had  so 
persistently  trained  himself  for  the  occasion, 
was  the  leading  spirit  in  the  massacre.  He  had 
procured  somewhere  a  big  broadsword  and 
sharpened  it  until  it  was  as  keen  as  a  razor. 

[33] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

He  made  a  most  deadly  weapon  of  it.  It  was 
the  worst  weapon  of  death  and  destruction  on 
this  lamentable  occasion.  The  men  selected  to 
do  the  execution  were  armed  with  sharp  knives 
for  the  purpose  and,  the  most  of  them,  con- 
cealed in  waiting  on  the  outside  of  the  dance- 
house,  ready  to  rush  in  at  a  given  signal.  Two 
men  were  stationed  on  the  roof  near  the  aper- 
ture where  they  could  watch  the  movements  in 
the  room  below  and,  at  the  most  propitious 
moment,  give  the  sign  to  those  in  waiting  out- 
side to  rush  in  and  join  the  executioners  inside. 
Those  inside  had  concealed  their  implements 
of  death  under  their  blankets  and  dress. 
Women  were  to  take  a  hand  in  the  massacre  to 
make  it  all  the  more  inglorious  for  the  Wran- 
gellites.  Nothing  was  left  undone  to  make  their 
punishment  as  dire  as  possible. 

All  preparations  for  the  dance  having  been 
made,  the  unsuspecting  visitors,  accoutred  in 
their  dancing  paraphernalia,  came  trooping  in 
at  the  weird  and  uncanny  beat  of  the  drum. 
Their  spirits  were  high  and  full  of  mirth.  Dur- 
ing their  preparations,  they  indulged  in  much 
laughter  and  many  jokes ;  and  now  on  their  way 
to  the  house  of  merriment  they  were  no  less 
happy.  It  was  their  most  popular  amusement, 

[34] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

and  one  that  raised  them  to  a  high  pitch  of  ex- 
citement and  drove  all  dull  care  away.  Joy- 
fully they  took  their  station  on  one  side  in  the 
pit  of  the  room.  There  was  not  a  look  nor  a 
movement  on  the  part  of  the  Sitkans  to  betray 
there  was  any  mischief  in  the  air.  In  cunning, 
they  were  consummate  artists. 

At  the  beating  of  the  drum  and  the  rising  of 
the  chant,  the  dancers  began  their  rhythmic  mo- 
tions. All  went  well  until  a  bloodcurdling  war 
whoop,  which  struck  terror  to  every  soul,  was 
sounded  from  the  roof.  At  this  signal,  the 
executioners  on  the  outside  rushed  in,  letting 
out  yells  that  caused  the  stoutest  hearts  to 
quail.  The  victims,  so  utterly  taken  by  sur- 
prise, unarmed,  hampered  and  struck  with  ter- 
ror, were  practically  paralyzed  for  a  spell. 
Then  began  a  desperate  struggle  for  their  lives. 
In  the  pandemonium  which  prevailed,  they 
fell,  one  after  another,  nor  did  it  take  long,  till 
the  last  Wrangellite  had  been  dispatched.  It 
was  a  fearful  slaughter,  and  the  scene  then  and 
there  beggars  all  description.  The  author 
must  throw  the  reader  on  his  imagination  to 
complete  the  horrid  scene. 

At  last  the  Sitkans  had  avenged  the  foul  mas- 
sacre of  their  fathers.  The  haughty  Kok- 

[35] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

wontons  were  now  satisfied.  The  old  black 
score  against  Wrangell  was  now  cancelled.  No 
longer  would  they  go  about  with  their  heads 
hung  in  sorrow  and  in  shame. 

These  massacres  established  a  bitter  and  last- 
ing animosity  between  the  two  villages  which, 
in  measure,  exists  to  this  day.  Since  the  last 
massacre  more  than  one  adventurous  Sitkan  has 
mysteriously  disappeared,  supposedly,  at  least, 
the  victim  of  foul  play  at  the  hand  of  some 
Wrangellite ;  and  more  than  one  adventurous 
Wrangellite  has  likewise  disappeared,  a  victim 
of  foul  play  at  the  hand  of  some  Sitkan.  To 
this  day  members  of  the  belligerent  tribes 
are  cautious  how  they  visit  each  other's  ter- 
ritory. 

But  this  is  not  all:  other  tragedies  followed 
as  a  consequence  of  the  elopement  of  Gissaoosh 
and  Kosteen.  As  Kosteen  was  now  blamed  for 
all  of  these  frightful  disasters,  she  had  to  be 
reckoned  with. 

When  the  people  of  Wrangell  learned  of  the 
tragic  death  of  their  people  at  the  hands  of  the 
Sitkans,  it  was  their  turn  to  weep  and  lament. 
There  was  mourning  in  every  household.  But 
they  felt  themselves  powerless  to  avenge  the 
murder  of  their  people.  They  also  felt  that  the 

[36] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

Sitkan  massacre  was  a  retaliation  of  their 
murder  of  the  Sitkans  and,  in  a  sense,  deserved. 

Still,  there  was  Kosteen,  who,  they  agreed, 
was  the  cause  of  all  this  mischief;  should  not 
something  be  done  with  her? 

Gissaoosh  knew  that  trouble  was  brewing  for 
Kosteen,  and  became  alarmed  for  her  safety. 
He  informed  her  that  she  was  in  danger  of  be- 
ing brutally  killed  by  his  people.  They  were 
furious  over  the  slaughter  of  their  people  and 
were  anxious  to  shed  some  one's  blood  in  re- 
venge. They  had  turned  their  eyes  toward  her 
and  would  surely  dispose  of  her  if  she  did  not 
get  out  of  their  way. 

When  she  was  told  this  she  fully  realized  her 
danger  and  was  fearful  for  her  life. 

"Kosteen,"  said  Gissaoosh,  "we  must  get 
into  a  canoe  and  go  away  to  save  your  life.  My 
people  are  furious  and  you  are  not  safe  here  in 
this  place.  We  must  leave  at  once  —  not  later 
than  tonight." 

"But  where  shall  we  go?"  inquired  Kosteen. 

* l  Out  into  the  wild  somewhere  —  anywhere. 
It  matters  not  where  so  we  can  keep  from  your 
enemies,"  he  replied.  "We  will  go  where  none 
can  ever  find  us  and  remain  until  they  are  sorry 
that  they  have  driven  Gissaoosh  away.  And 

[37] 

279975 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

when  their  anger  has  passed  away  and  they 
long  to  see  the  face  of  Gissaoosh,  then  we  may 
return  and  you  will  be  in  no  danger  from  my 
people,  as  they  will  see  how  I  love  you." 

Marriages  are  often  made  among  the  Thlin- 
gets  with  the  element  of  love  left  out.  There 
is  no  such  thing  as  courtship ;  and  seldom  such 
a  thing  as  falling  in  love.  A  young  man's 
parents,  or  near  relatives,  select  his  wife.  Often- 
times a  girl  or  woman  sees  her  husband  for 
the  first  time  when  she  comes  to  marry  him. 
Frequently  girls  and  women  are  selected  for 
wives  for  no  other,  or  stronger,  reason  than 
that  they  are  quiet,  shy,  extremely  industrious 
and  modest.  The  ability  to  do  things,  next  to 
caste,  is  her  highest  recommendation.  These 
are  the  qualities  of  prime  importance  in  the 
eyes  of  the  relatives  who  make  the  matrimonial 
matches.  The  real  sentimental  love  element 
does  not  necessarily  enter  into  marriages  con- 
summated for  such  reasons.  This  may  account 
for  the  frequent  separation  of  husbands  and 
wives  among  the  Thlingets.  Love  is  lacking  to 
cement  the  holy  bond;  hence  they  separate  for 
the  most  trivial  reasons.  Few  women  there  are 
among  them  of  any  age  who  have  not  had  more 
than  a  dozen  husbands  (so-called) ;  and  few 

[38] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

men  who  have  not  had  many  wives.  These 
matrimonial  vicissitudes  are  doubtless  due,  at 
least  largely,  to  the  lack  of  genuine  love 
matches. 

But  Gissaoosh,  when  he  first  looked  into  the 
bewitching,  coal-black  eyes  of  Kosteen,  was 
smitten  with  love.  She  was  then  eighteen — the 
period  when  the  Thlinget  woman  is  in  full 
bloom  and  fades  so  rapidly  afterwards.  Kos- 
teen was  uncommonly  pretty.  Her  features 
were  well  moulded,  a  rosy  tint  adorned  her  olive 
complexion,  and  in  form  she  was  neither  mas- 
sive nor  spindling,  but  graceful  and  beautiful. 
Her  hair  was  her  crowning  physical  beauty;  in 
color  raven  black.  Her  carriage  was  sprightly 
and  graceful;  an  uncommon  characteristic  with 
her  people. 

It  was  no  wonder,  then,  that  Gissaoosh  was 
smitten  with  this  lovely  apparition.  Others  had 
been  before  him.  And  now  this  bird  in  his  hand 
he  was  loth  to  let  it  go.  So,  in  order  to  save 
her  to  himself,  he  was  willing  to  cut  loose  from 
his  people  and  plunge  with  her  into  the  grim 
solitude  of  the  forest  and  share  with  her  any 
and  every  privation. 


[39] 


CHAPTER  VI 

THAT  night,  when  the  inhabitants  of  Wrangell 
were  wrapped  in  slumber,  the  two  self-exiles 
quietly  put  some  of  their  personal  effects  into 
a  canoe,  scantily  provisioned  it,  and  then  pad- 
dled softly  beyond  the  hearing  of  that  people. 

It  was  some  hours  after  the  members  of  the 
household,  in  which  Gissaoosh  and  Kosteen 
lived,  were  astir  before  they  were  missed. 
Upon  investigation,  it  was  found  that  they  had 
fled.  Soon  the  whole  village  knew  of  their  flight. 
News  of  a  scandalous  nature  travels  fast  among 
such  people.  Many  flocked  to  the  house  of  Gis- 
saoosh to  gossip  about  the  affair  and  satisfy 
their  curiosity,  which  is  a  common  practice 
when  anything  out  of  the  ordinary  occurs. 

When  those  who  desired  to  shed  Kosteen 's 
blood  heard  of  it  they  were  chagrined  because 
they  had  been  outwitted.  No  native  relishes  to 
be  outwitted.  Many  of  them  regard  deception 
as  praiseworthy.  Those  who  are  successful  in 
deceiving  are  considered  smart.  This  was  espe- 
cially true  when  the  events  herein  related  took 
place. 

[40] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

Many  were  sorry  that  Gissaoosh  had  left 
them.  He  was  a  popular  man  with  his  tribe; 
not  so  much  for  his  virtues  as  for  his  prowess. 
His  people  realized  that  he  was  making  a 
sacrifice  to  live  apart  from  them ;  so  their  sym- 
pathy went  out  to  him. 

Tribes  are  very  clannish.  No  matter  what 
crime  a  man  commits  his  tribe  will  stand  by 
him  to  a  man  and  save  him  from  punishment 
if  they  can.  To  accomplish  this  they  will  pay 
heavily  if  required,  every  member  contributing 
something  toward  his  defense.  Or,  if  justice 
overtakes  the  culprit  and  he  is  lodged  in  jail, 
they  pity  him,  lament  his  misfortune  and  labor 
to  have  him  released.  No  matter  how  deserving 
of  punishment  he  may  be,  they  will  save  him 
from  it  if  they  can.  So  the  people  of  Gissaoosh 
lamented  his  forced  departure. 

The  exiles  traveled  till  daybreak,  and  then 
sought  a  shelter  in  the  forest.  It  was  nothing 
to  pack  their  canoe  into  the  bushes  where  it  was 
hidden  so  none  could  see  it. 

"We  will  sleep  and  rest  today,  Kosteen," 
said  the  man,  "and  when  the  stars  come  out 
again  we'll  continue  on  our  way.  I  know  the 
spot  where  we  will  tarry.  It  abounds  with  fish 

[41] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

and  game.  There  we  can  live  for  a  long  time 
though  we  see  not  the  face  of  man. ' ' 

Gissaoosh  was  right.  No  man  need  starve 
who  lives  anywhere  on  the  south  coast  of 
Alaska.  Fresh  fish  and  game  are  to  be  had 
any  day  in  the  year.  All  he  needs  to  do  is  to 
follow  the  Petrine  invitation,  arise,  kill  and  eat. 

"But,  Gissaoosh,"  replied  the  woman,  "I'm 
sorry  to  bring  you  to  this.  I  wish  that  you  had 
let  them  kill  me,  as  I  deserve;  then  you  could 
live  with  your  people." 

"No!  No!  Kosteen,  that  would  break  my 
heart.  To  be  with  you  is  my  happiness.  My 
people  are  against  you;  so  I  do  not  care  for 
them  now.  Don't,  then,  worry  about  me.  I 
know  they'll  repent  and  wish  me  back.  But 
when  they  know  they  can't  have  me  without  my 
Kosteen,  they'll  welcome  you  too  for  my  sake. 
So  don't  trouble  your  soul  about  me.  We'll 
make  the  forest  our  home  for  a  season,  enjoy 
its  freedom,  live  on  its  wild  products,  and  feast 
on  love.  What  more,  Kosteen,  can  the  human 
heart  wish  for?  Men  live  in  communities,  shut 
themselves  up  in  houses,  forge  social  chains  to 
bind  themselves  to  the  slavery  of  customs,  and 
call  it  living!  and,  wildest  of  all,  boast  of  free- 
dom! How  absurd!  We  live  and  are  free  in- 

[42] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

deed  only  when  we  live  next  to  Nature's  heart. 
So  I'm  happy.  A  child  of  Nature,  I  love  the 
wild.  Having  you  to  share  this  primitive  life 
with  me,  I  'm  thrice  happy.  Therefore,  Kosteen, 
have  no  vain  regrets  over  me." 

1  'I  wish  my  heart  was  as  true  as  yours,  Gis- 
saoosh.  But,  alas,  it  is  so  fickle.  This  wind  is 
now  from  the  north,  kissing  yonder  shaded 
slope ;  but  before  night  it  may  be  blowing  from 
the  south,  kissing  yonder  sunny  slope.  Such  is 
woman's  love,  variable  as  the  wind.  Keep  me 
in  this  wilderness  apart  from  others  and  I  am 
secure.  My  heart  will  then  cling  to  you. ' ' 

"Kosteen,  talk  no  more  in  this  strain.  Your 
heart,  I  know,  is  not  so  base,  else  you  would  not 
talk  so.  This  confession  and  self-abasement 
bespeak  a  nobler  nature  than  you  claim  for 
yourself.  The  mean  and  base  hide  their  faults 
and  pretend  to  saintliness.  So  I  trust  you." 

"But  Gissaoosh,  I  know  my  heart,  and  it  is 
as  I  say.  So  be  undeceived.  Did  I  not  leave 
Hochaga  and  run  with  you?  If  untrue  to  him 
can  I  be  true  to  you?  It  were  better  for  you 
if  we  return  to  Wrangell  and  you  surrender  me 
to  your  people.  I  have  caused  so  much  trouble 
I  deserve  to  die." 

The  Thlingets  as  a  rule  are  fearless  of  death. 

[43] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

They  have  been  known  to  frequently  present 
themselves  to  be  killed  both  for  their  own 
crimes  and  as  a  substitute  for  members  of  their 
tribe.  So  Kosteen  was  not  merely  indulging 
in  idle  talk  as  she  thus  spoke  to  her  companion. 

"I  see,"  replied  Gissaoosh,  "that  you  hope 
to  discourage  me  and  have  me  to  turn  back  and 
deliver  you  to  my  people.  It  will  not  work,  my 
little  fox.  Your  frankness  does  not  comport 
with  such  a  nature  as  you  claim  you  have." 

"For  your  sake,  I  wish  it  were  so,  Gissaoosh. 
I  wish  it  were  so.  But,  alas,  I  cannot  trust  my 
own  heart." 

As  Kosteen  said  this  Gissaoosh  looked 
searchingly  into  her  eyes.  His  looks  betrayed 
that  he  partly  believed  her.  No  more,  however, 
was  said  on  the  subject. 

As  the  sun  silently  sank  below  the  western 
horizon,  the  exiles  ate  their  humble  evening 
meal;  and  as  the  stars  one  after  another  be- 
jeweled  the  heaven  above,  they  boarded  their 
little  craft  and  went  gliding  over  the  deep, 
skirting  along  the  shadowy  shore. 

Before  the  glint  in  the  east  appeared  to  an- 
nounce the  coming  of  another  day,  they  had 
arrived  at  the  spot  where  Gissaoosh  had  in 
mind  to  stay.  It  was  a  very  sequestered,  charm- 

[44] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

ing  nook,  one  of  the  beautiful  lagoons  so  numer- 
ous in  Alaska.  The  entrance  to  it  was  so  nar- 
row that  any  craft  much  larger  than  a  canoe 
could  not  enter  it.  Within  it  was  perfectly 
circular.  It  was  not  more  than  one-half  of  a  mile 
in  diameter,  yet  very  deep.  Several  varieties  of 
fish  inhabited  its  ever  quiet  waters.  Its  shores 
were  fringed  with  timber  and  bushes,  save 
one  place  where  there  was  a  meadow  of  some 
area.  On  the  marshy  surface  of  this  meadow 
grew  the  luscious  lagoon-berry  in  great  pro- 
fusion. In  the  forest  the  bushes  were  weighted 
with  huckleberries,  salmon-berries,  wild  cur- 
rants, and  other  small  fruits.  It  also  abounded 
with  deer,  bears,  porcupines,  groundhog, 
grouse,  and  other  wild  game  fit  for  the  table  of 
a  king.  Starve!  Not  where  Nature  is  so 
bountiful  as  this.  No  man  who  has  the  use  of 
his  feet  and  hands  need  starve  in  such  a  place. 
Here  his  table  is  always  spread  for  him  to  eat 
when  he  is  hungry.  Starvation  is  the  rarest 
death  in  Alaska.  A  man  must  be  disabled  by 
accident,  sickness  or  infirmity  to  meet  Starva- 
tion here  unless  somewhere  lost  on  the  vast 
plains  of  the  interior.  But  the  coast  of  Alaska 
is  a  vast  refectory  where  man  may  dine  when 

[45] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

he  will.  There  was,  then,  no  danger  of  the 
exiles  starving  so  long  as  they  had  health. 

When  they  entered  this  quiet  precinct  there 
was  no  hint  of  human  life  present  besides  them- 
selves. So  they  congratulated  themselves  that 
they  had  the  place  all  to  themselves.  But  they 
had  scarcely  more  than  nicely  settled  them- 
selves in  their  "sissa-hit"  (tent-house),  when, 
looking  out,  they  saw  a  smoke  issuing  from  the 
trees  near-by  and  trailing  slowly  over  the 
lagoon.  It  both  surprised  and  startled  them. 

Their  first  impulse  on  this  discovery  was  to 
strike  tent  at  once  and  leave;  but  on  second 
thought  they  determined  to  ascertain  who  was 
their  neighbor.  Gissaoosh  played  the  spy.  He 
stole  through  the  woods  and  cautiously  ap- 
proached the  locality  whence  issued  the  smoke. 
Much  to  his  surprise,  and  relief  as  well,  he 
found  an  abode  which  was  half  house  and  half 
tent,  the  sole  occupant  of  it  a  white  man.  After 
a  few  interchanges  of  words,  signs  and  motions 
with  the  man,  Gissaoosh  returned  and  reported 
his  discovery  to  Kosteen. 

They  regarded  the  white  man  being  there  as 
all  right,  feeling  that  he  might  be  of  service  to 
them  than  otherwise. 

The  newly  discovered  man,  John  Heizer,  was 

[46] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

a  prospector.  He  had  fixed  his  habitation  with 
the  thought  of  spending  the  following  winter 
there.  Hence  he  had  made  the  lower  part  of 
logs  and  boards  and  the  upper,  or  roof,  part  of 
tenting  material. 

Even  in  prospector's  clothes,  Heizer  was  not 
a  bad-looking  man ;  and  if  ' '  spruced  up "  at  all 
he  was  rather  good-looking.  He  was  fairly 
educated  and  a  man  of  some  breeding.  He 
stood  about  five  feet  and  ten  inches  high,  and 
weighed  about  one  hundred  and  seventy  pounds. 

He  had  chosen  the  life  of  a  solitary  pros- 
pector after  many  vicissitudes  and  some  sore 
disappointments  in  early  life.  He  was  now 
verging  on  to  forty  years  of  age  and  possessed 
a  sound  constitution.  Like  most  prospectors 
and  men  who  live  in  the  solitude,  he  made  the 
pipe  and  dog  his  companions. 

The  latter  is  the  only  sentient  being  whose 
fidelity  can  be  implicitly  relied  on.  He  will 
stick  when  all  others  fail;  and  in  lonely  camp- 
life  he  proves  very  companionable  indeed. 
Faithful  brute!  which  deserves  man's  kindest 
treatment,  too  often  has  his  faithfulness  re- 
warded with  kicks  and  blows. 

The  pipe  is  a  consolation  to  lonely  man.  I 
know  some  people  abhor  it,  and  some  are  so 

[47] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

narrow  they  would  even  prohibit,  if  they  could, 
its  use.  But  if  a  man  find  a  comfort  and  pleas- 
ure in  an  indulgence  that  does  not  interfere 
with  the  rights  and  privileges  of  others,  why 
should  he  be  deprived  of  that  pleasure?  For- 
sooth! just  to  accommodate  himself  to  the 
whimsical  conscience  of  some  bigot?  The  man 
in  solitude  will  never  be  the  worse  being  for  his 
dog  and  pipe. 

That  afternoon  Heizer  visited  the  camp  of 
Gissaoosh.  Kosteen,  according  to  the  modesty 
and  etiquette  of  the  female  portion  of  her  peo- 
ple, turned  her  face  from  the  visitor  (being  a 
man)  and  busied  herself  with  her  sewing  —  a 
happy  refuge  for  most  native  women.  Not- 
withstanding this  ruse  of  Kosteen,  Heizer 
could  see  that  she  was  uncommonly  pretty  for 
an  Indian  woman.  He  patiently  waited  until 
he  could  get  a  square  look  at  her  face.  Some 
time  elapsed  before  he  succeeded  in  getting  it. 
Indian  wives  are  not  supposed  to  look  at  other 
men.  Husbands  are  jealous  of  them  if  they  do. 
Kosteen  was  aware  of  this ;  so  she  was  careful 
not  to  incur  the  displeasure  of  Gissaoosh,  by 
even  glancing  at  the  strange  man. 

But  a  circumstance  happened  that  enabled 
the  white  man  to  get  a  full  view  of  her  face. 

[48] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

His  dog,  lying  near  the  camp  stove,  stretched 
his  paw  and  touched  it.  He  gave  a  jump  and  a 
howl,  at  the  same  time  creating  quite  a  com- 
motion. As  humor  is  a  very  pronounced  trait 
of  the  Thlingets,  Kosteen,  as  well  as  the  others, 
could  not  withhold  her  laughter  at  the  antics 
of  the  dog,  and  while  giving  vent  to  her  feel- 
ings, she  looked  squarely  at  the  white  man. 
Heizer  was  more  than  favorably  impressed 
with  her  face. 

As  time  slipped  away,  the  campers  became 
better  and  better  acquainted.  Kosteen 's  shy- 
ness wore  off.  She  would  not  only  look  at  her 
white  neighbor,  but  smile  with  him  when  any- 
thing was  said  or  done  to  provoke  a  smile. 

Her  race  are  uncommonly  blessed  with  excel- 
lent and  handsome  teeth.  She  possessed  them 
as  near  perfection  as  they  could  be.  Without 
ever  having  felt  the  pressure  of  a  toothbrush, 
they  were  as  white  as  though  brushed  with 
finest  dentifrice  every  day.  When  she  smiled 
her  pretty  white  teeth  showed  just  enough  to 
display  their  beauty,  and  it  gave  her  counte- 
nance a  winsomeness  hard  for  man  to  resist. 
The  prospector  observed  this  feature  of  her 
otherwise  prepossessing  face. 

Day  by  day  she  became  more  and  more  inter- 

[49] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

esting  to  the  white  man;  and  he  became  more 
and  more  interesting  to  her.  His  looks  pleased 
her.  Still  she  was  very  careful  of  her  conduct 
in  his  presence,  as  she  did  not  wish  to  excite 
the  jealousy  of  her  husband  (as  Gissaoosh  was 
now  so  regarded).  She  well  knew  how  girls 
and  women  of  her  race  had  suffered  horrible 
disfigurements  of  face  and  other  cruel  treat- 
ment for  exciting  the  jealousy  of  their  hus- 
bands. Nor  did  it  take  much  to  arouse  this 
jealousy.  A  glance,  a  word,  a  mere  dream  of  a 
wife's  inconstancy,  a  suspicion  was  sufficient  to 
arouse  it.  So  Kosteen  was  cautious. 

Heizer  found  a  pleasure  in  visiting  his  neigh- 
bors, and  was  pleased  when  they  called  on  him. 
He  was  kind  to  them,  giving  them  of  his  stores 
and  assisting  them  in  any  way  he  could.  He 
thus  ingratiated  himself  into  their  good  graces 
and,  by  his  spirit  of  generosity,  made  them 
kindly  disposed  toward  him. 

As  time  wore  on,  Heizer  found  himself  car- 
ing more  and  more  for  the  woman.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  woman  was  conceiving  a  liking 
for  him.  The  former  had  no  other  human  being 
on  whom  to  center  his  affections. 

Gissaoosh  watched  his  wife  (so  regarded) 
very  closely  to  see  if  he  could  detect  her  show- 

[50] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

ing  any  feeling  for  the  white  man.  What  she 
had  already  told  him  about  her  fickleness,  made 
him  fear  that  she  might  take  a  fancy  to  this 
man.  He  had  not  the  implicit  faith  in  her  that 
he  pretended  he  had.  There  was  a  measure  of 
uneasiness  in  his  mind  about  her.  He  was 
shrewd  enough  to  see  that  Heizer  cared  for  her 
whether  she  did  for  him  or  not.  Not  knowing 
the  Indian  ways  as  well  as  he  might,  the  pros- 
pector did  things  which  were  construed  by  his 
jealous  mind  as  advances  toward  his  wife. 
With  an  American  woman  the  same  things 
which  the  prospector  did  would  have  attracted 
little  or  no  attention  of  her  husband.  But  the 
keen,  observing  mind  of  the  Indian  read  in 
them  a  serious  meaning. 

Without  realizing  it,  Heizer  was  treading  on 
very  dangerous  ground,  until  one  day  he  com- 
mitted a  very  grave  indiscretion  which  fired  the 
jealousy  of  Gissaoosh. 

The  latter  was  out  getting  wood.  He  passed 
by  the  prospector's  camp  to  get  it.  The  two 
exchanged  a  few  words  and  the  Indian  passed 
on.  While  he  was  returning  he  saw  the  white 
man  coming  from  his  camp.  His  suspicion  was 
at  once  aroused  and  the  green-eyed  monster 
took  complete  possession  of  him. 

[51] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

Heizer  had  very  injudiciously  slipped  over  to 
the  tent  of  the  woman  while  Gissaoosh  was 
away.  She  was  aware  of  the  trouble  it  would 
make  if  he  were  seen  by  her  husband.  She  in- 
dicated for  him  to  leave;  but,  like  a  silly  man, 
he  loitered  until  too  late,  and  was  consequently 
seen  by  the  returning  Indian. 

As  soon  as  Gissaoosh  entered  the  tent,  his 
countenance  indicated  his  displeasure,  and  he 
looked  reproachfully  at  Kosteen. 

"Was  that  man  calling  here?"  he  demanded. 

She  frankly  answered  that  he  was.  It  was 
enough.  He  burned  with  jealousy. 

* '  How  long  was  he  here  ? "  he  next  demanded. 

She  promptly  told  him. 

"Did  you  talk  with  him?"  he  asked  in  harsh 
tones. 

"  No ;  I  had  no  desire  to  see  him, ' '  she  truth- 
fully said. 

"Ah,  ha!"  he  scornfully  laughed.  "I  sup- 
pose not!"  he  very  sarcastically  added,  and 
then  roundly  abused  her. 


[52] 


CHAPTER  VII 

FEOM  the  time  that  Gissaoosh  discovered  the 
prospector  coming  from  his  camp,  he  distrusted 
him  and  regarded  him  with  suspicion  and 
malice.  Jealousy  rankled  in  his  bosom.  That 
day,  before  he  let  up  quizzing  his  wife,  he 
picked  a  quarrel  with  her.  And  the  more  she 
endeavored  to  show  the  innocence  of  the  pros- 
pector, as  well  as  of  herself,  the  worse  it 
made  the  jealous  man.  He  thought  she  was 
lying  to  shield  herself  and  Heizer. 

What  a  fierce  fire  is  jealousy!  and  how  rap- 
idly it  consumes  the  nobler  principles  of  the 
soul !  Trust  is  burned  away  at  once  by  it,  while 
a  fierce  hatred  is  generated  by  the  same  heat. 
Peace  is  rapidly  consumed  in  its  fire,  while  it 
leaves  the  mind  in  violent  unrest. 

The  faith  of  Gissaoosh  in  Kosteen  was  now 
shattered.  His  peace  of  soul  was  gone.  The 
camp  became  an  abode  of  misery.  He  would 
have  moved  from  the  place,  but  felt  he  had  a 
grievance  against  the  prospector  he  must  pay. 

As  is  the  manner  of  his  people,  he  brooded 
over  his  trouble  until  it  was  magnified  a  hun- 

[53] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

dred-fold  in  his  eyes  and  made  him  desperate. 
He  would  "do  him,"  he  said  to  himself,  and  then 
swipe  his  belongings.  Thus  he  would  rid  him- 
self of  the  man  and  avenge  the  offense  he  had 
suffered. 

No  matter  how  much  has  been  done  for  a 
native,  as  a  rule,  if  you  cross  him  or  offend  him, 
he  forgets  every  kindness  you  have  done  him 
and  he  is  ready  to  turn  your  implacable  enemy. 

Kosteen  knew  this.  She  also  saw  the  drift 
of  things  and  feared  for  the  life  of  the  pros- 
pector; as  she  well  knew  what  a  demon  jealousy 
is  in  the  bosom  of  one  of  her  race. 

She  had  seen  husbands  slash  the  cheeks  of 
their  wives,  punch  out  an  eye,  knock  out  the 
teeth,  and  bite  off  the  end  of  the  nose  from 
frenzied  jealousy.  The  author  has  himself  seen 
ugly  scars  on  the  faces  of  women,  the  marks  of 
jealous  rage. 

Kosteen  had  known  also  life  to  be  taken  for 
no  other  reason.  The  demon  was  now  awake 
in  Gissaoosh,  and  there  was  no  telling  what  he 
would  do. 

Heizer,  not  knowing  how  little  it  takes  to 
arouse  the  jealousy  of  an  Indian,  never 
dreamed  that  he  was  a  marked  man  by  Gis- 
saoosh. 

[54] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

The  demon  was  also  awake  in  the  prospec- 
tor 's  bosom,  but  of  another  name  —  the  demon 
of  covetousness.  He  was  coveting  strongly  his 
neighbor's  wife. 

Not  many  days  after  he  had  aroused  the 
demon  in  Gissaoosh,  he  made  another  fatal  mis- 
step. While  visiting  his  neighbors  he  pretended 
to  be  very  much  interested  in  a  pair  of  moc- 
casins which  Kosteen  was  making.  While 
examining  and  admiring  them,  he  intentionally, 
though  he  thought  he  was  not  observed,  laid 
his  hand  on  the  hand  of  the  woman.  Unfortu- 
nately, Gissaoosh  saw  it;  and  that  not  acci- 
dentally, as  he  had  been  very  slyly  observing 
every  move  the  prospector  made. 

This  act  of  the  white  man  only  added  more 
fuel  to  the  already  hot  flame  of  jealousy. 

After  he  left  the  tent,  Gissaoosh  picked  an- 
other quarrel  with  Kosteen  and  abused  her 
roundly.  He  made  his  boast  that  he  would 
"fix"  the  "white  devil." 

The  woman  knew  what  that  meant.  She  knew 
also  that  it  was  no  idle  threat  on  the  man's 
part.  So  she  was  thoroughly  alarmed  for  the 
safety  of  the  white  man.  She  resolved  to  tell 
him  of  his  danger  and  warn  him  to  be  on  his 

[55] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

guard.  The  native  had  a  double  motive  for 
putting  Heizer  out  of  the  way — to  save  Kosteen 
from  him  and  to  get  his  property. 

From  this  on  he  was  churlish  and  disagree- 
able. He  made  life  so  miserable  for  the  woman 
she  wished  herself  with  the  white  man,  whom 
she  felt  would  be  kind  to  her. 

Before  she  could  contrive  to  communicate  to 
the  man  his  danger,  Gissaoosh  had  determined 
his  plan  of  attack. 

He  had  seen  some  deer  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  lagoon  the  very  day  that  Heizer  had  so 
foolishly  laid  his  hand  on  the  hand  of  Kosteen. 
He  planned  to  invite  his  neighbor  to  get  into 
his  canoe,  cross  the  lagoon  and  capture  some 
of  the  deer.  While  crossing  the  lagoon  he  would 
shoot  the  man  and  tumble  his  body  into  the 
water.  This,  he  thought,  would  dispose  of 
Heizer  very  effectually  and  leave  no  traces  of 
the  murder.  He  had  no  fears  of  managing 
Kosteen  in  the  matter. 

Accordingly,  before  the  woman  could  acquaint 
the  prospector  with  his  danger,  her  husband 
had  invited  him  to  go  after  deer,  which  invita- 
tion was  gladly  accepted. 

When  they  were  about  two-thirds  of  the  way 

[56] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

across  the  lagoon,  what  was  Heizer 's  consterna- 
tion to  see  the  Indian  suddenly  drop  his  paddle, 
grasp  his  rifle  and  attempt  to  level  it  at  him. 
Instinctively  he  took  in  the  situation,  instantly 
grabbed  the  side  of  the  canoe  and  gave  her 
such  a  lurch  as  to  throw  Gissaoosh,  causing  him 
to  fall  awkwardly  on  his  side.  Before  the  des- 
perate man  could  adjust  himself,  the  prospector 
was  grappling  with  him  for  the  gun.  In  the 
scuffling  they  capsized  the  canoe  and  both  were 
dumped  into  the  deep.  Here  the  prospector 
had  the  advantage,  as  he  was  a  good  swimmer, 
whereas  the  Indian  could  not  swim  at  all.  The 
efforts  of  the  latter  to  get  on  the  canoe  proved 
fruitless,  and  he  finally  sank  out  of  sight. 

This  left  Heizer  in  absolute  control  of  the 
situation.  After  climbing  on  to  the  upturned 
canoe,  he  grabbed  a  paddle  floating  near-by  and 
paddled  to  the  nearest  shore.  Then,  dumping 
the  water  out  of  the  canoe,  he  paddled  back  to 
camp. 

Heizer  made  no  attempt  to  rescue  the  body 
of  the  Indian,  as  he  was  smarting  under  his 
assault  and  felt  that  the  drowned  man  received 
what  he  deserved. 

As  soon  as  he  could  exchange  dry  clothes  for 

[57] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

his  wet  ones,  he  went  to  the  camp  of  Kosteen 
and  acquainted  her  with  the  dreadful  facts. 
The  poor  woman  was  overcome  with  grief  and 
piteously  bewailed  the  death  of  Gissaoosh.  The 
prospector  pitied  her  from  the  bottom  of  his 
heart.  A  long  time  followed  before  she  suffi- 
ciently composed  herself  for  him  to  reason 
with  her. 

He  was  afraid  that  she  would  resent  every 
proffer  of  help  after  what  had  taken  place ;  that 
she  would  harbor  enmity  toward  him  for  his 
part  in  the  death  of  her  companion.  But  the 
truth  is  the  woman  felt  relieved  that  Gissaoosh 
was  out  of  the  way;  for  lately  he  had  made  life 
intolerable  for  her.  She  cared,  too,  for  the 
prospector.  Furthermore,  she  felt  herself  to 
be  entirely  at  his  mercy.  For  these  reasons  she 
yielded  more  readily  to  his  proposals  than  he 
had  anticipated. 

He  conveyed  to  her  as  best  he  could  that  he 
wanted  her  to  come  and  share  his  camp.  This 
she  did,  as  the  bewildered  woman  saw  nothing 
else  for  her  to  do. 

The  next  day  they  dragged  the  lagoon  with 
fish-lines  until  they  recovered  the  body  of  Gis- 
saoosh. Heizer  made  as  good  a  coffin  as  he 
could  with  the  rude  materials  at  hand,  and  the 

[58] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

twain,  there  in  the  solitary  forest,  gave  him 
the  best  burial  they  could  under  the  circum- 
stances. There  his  body  lay  until  his  tribe  dis- 
covered where  it  was  and,  with  great  lamenta- 
tions, conveyed  it  to  Wrangell. 


[59] 


CHAPTER  VIII 

NEARLY  a  year  had  rolled  away  before  the 
people  of  Gissaoosh  discovered  that  he  was 
dead.  It  was  a  sorry  discovery  for  them.  Es- 
pecially did  they  regret  that  he  had  met  his 
death  by  drowning.  The  tribe  regarded  this  as 
very  unfortunate,  as  death  by  drowning  was 
considered  very  ignominious.  Slaves  were  not 
accorded  the  ceremony  of  burning  when  dead, 
but  their  lifeless  bodies  were  cast  into  the  sea. 
This  was  done  as  a  mark  of  contempt. 

For  a  man  of  caste,  then,  like  Gissaoosh,  to 
meet  his  death  by  drowning,  was  a  most  deplor- 
able affair.  They  doubly  mourned  his  death 
for  this. 

In  the  spirit  world,  according  to  their  super- 
stition, his  spirit  would  have  to  remain  in  a 
cold,  disagreeable  place.  Had  his  body  been 
burned  according  to  their  custom,  then  in  the 
other  world  his  spirit  would  have  been  assured 
a  warm  and  comfortable  place.  Hence  the 
custom  of  burning  their  dead.  Before  the  ad- 
vent of  the  missionary  to  enlighten  them,  the 

[60] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

native 's  idea  of  future  misery  was  not  suffering 
from  heat  but  from  cold. 

When  they  dug  up  the  remains  of  Gissaoosh 
and  transferred  them  to  Wrangell,  they  burned 
his  bones,  hoping  that  this  act  would  procure 
for  his  spirit  in  the  other  world  a  more  com- 
fortable place  than  he  otherwise  would  have. 
A  big  feast  for  the  dead  was  given  immediately 
after,  as  a  further  propitiation  to  the  unseen 
powers  in  behalf  of  the  spirit  of  the  drowned 
man.  Feasting  for  the  benefit  of  the  dead  is  a 
common  practice  which  obtains  to  the  present 
day.  During  the  feast  food  is  thrown  into  the 
fire.  This,  it  is  imagined,  is  in  some  way  bene- 
ficial to  the  dead.  So  when  the  sad  rites  of 
burning  the  bones  of  the  man  long  dead  were 
over,  the  feasting  as  a  matter  of  custom  fol- 
lowed. 

Yet  after  the  people  of  Gissaoosh  had  done 
this  they  did  not  feel  that  their  whole  duty 
toward  the  dead  had  been  discharged.  The 
death  of  their  tribesman  remained  to  be 
avenged.  As  Gissaoosh  stood  high  in  his  tribe, 
no  ordinary  man  from  the  tribe  of  Kosteen 
could  be  taken.  They  must  take  one  equally 
high  in  station  as  he  and  kill  Kosteen  also  if 

[61] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

they  could  do  so.  For  she,  they  reasoned,  was 
the  direct  cause  of  all  their  troubles. 

There  are  some  queer  principles  in  the  juris- 
prudence (if  we  may  so  call  their  system  of 
civil  proceedings)  of  the  natives.  If,  for  in- 
stance, a  high  caste  individual  is  killed  by  one 
of  low  caste,  not  the  murderer  is  taken,  but  one 
of  his  tribe  who  is  equal  in  caste  to  the  one 
killed.  If  such  cannot  be  found  then  two  of  the 
lower  caste  must  pay  the  penalty  of  the  man's 
deed.  Owing  to  this  system  the  innocent  has 
more  often  suffered  the  penalty  of  crimes  than 
the  guilty.  So,  in  conformity  to  this  custom, 
the  tribe  of  Gissaoosh  determined  to  seize  and 
kill  some  member  of  Kosteen's  tribe  who  was 
the  peer  of  their  dead  one. 

Kosteen,  knowing  the  ways  of  her  race, 
knew  that  she  was  a  marked  woman,  and  told 
her  newly  adopted  spouse  so. 

" Gissaoosh — his  people,"  she  said,  "me  kill. 
Go  away,  me  all  right.  Me — go — you — white 
man's — home." 

These  incoherent  words  were  plainly  under- 
stood by  the  prospector,  and  he  realized  that 
her  fears  were  well  founded.  He  determined  to 
act  on  her  suggestion  and  leave  the  dangerous 
place.  Besides,  visions  of  the  dead  Gissaoosh 

[62] 


haunted  him,  and  would,  he  felt,  so  long  as  he 
remained  there.  Every  day  he  could  see  the 
spot  where  the  struggling  man  went  under. 
The  agony  depicted  on  his  drowning  counte- 
ance  would  ever  remain  imprinted  on  his  mem- 
ory. Then,  there  was  the  place  of  his  burial 
near-by.  He  could  fancy  at  times  that  the  dead 
Indian,  in  spirit,  was  walking  around,  watching 
his  familiarities  with  his  wife.  The  thought 
that  he,  at  least  in  measure,  was  guilty  of  his 
death  preyed  on  his  mind.  Heizer  was  indeed 
ill  at  ease  and  very  restive.  His  conscience  bit- 
terly incriminated  him.  Not  so  much  for  the 
Indian 's  death,  as  for  taking  his  wife. 

He  resolved  to  leave  the  hateful  place,  and 
now  wondered  at  himself  that  he  had  stayed 
there  so  long  as  he  had.  Then,  too,  he  had  be- 
come quite  attached  to  the  woman,  and  she  to 
him.  He  would  leave  to  save  her,  he  said  to 
himself,  as  well  as  to  get  away  from  a  place 
with  such  unpleasant  associations. 

He  purposed  to  go  to  British  Columbia  as  a 
refuge,  and  there  escape  entirely  the  enemies 
of  Kosteen. 

The  very  day  that  they  left  the  lagoon  they 
had  not  traveled  more  than  four  miles  when 
they  saw  rounding  a  point  at  the  north  a  string 

[63] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

of  three  canoes.  They  watched  them  intently 
and  saw  them  enter  the  lagoon  they  had  just 
left.  They  felt  reasonably  sure  that  the  people 
in  the  canoes  were  the  people  of  Gissaoosh  bent 
on  revenge.  It  was  true;  and  how  fortunate 
for  them  they  had  pulled  away  from  the  place 
in  time! 

The  people  who  were  seeking  revenge  were 
deeply  disappointed  when  they  found  no  one  in 
the  lagoon.  Their  experienced  eyes  told  them 
that  it  had  not  been  long  vacated.  Had  they 
seen  the  boat  of  the  prospector  before  they 
entered  the  lagoon,  they  probably  would  have 
pursued  him.  But  as  they  did  not  see  the  boat 
they  were  not  inclined  to  set  up  a  ''wild  goose 
chase,"  and  blindly  run  after  a  man  they  knew 
not  where. 

Failing  in  this  murderous  enterprise  they  re- 
solved to  return  to  Wrangell;  which  they  did. 
Then  they  marked  the  man  in  Kosteen's  tribe 
whom  they  would  kill  in  revenge  of  the  death  of 
Gissaoosh. 

According  to  native  custom,  negotiations 
with  the  woman's  tribe  were  entered  into  for 
the  deliverance  of  the  man.  They  were  told 
how  Gissaoosh  had  come  to  his  death,  and  that 
Kosteen,  one  of  their  tribe,  was  the  cause  of  it ; 

[64] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

that,  according  to  their  custom,  a  life  had  to 
be  given  for  a  life,  and  one  equally  high  caste 
as  the  one  taken. 

The  Kokwontons  scorned  their  demand,  and 
warned  them  not  to  harm  a  member  of  their 
tribe,  or  they  would  rue  it. 

A  grudge  is  not  easily  or  soon  forgotten  by 
this  people.  The  Wrangellites  were  not  likely 
to  forget  their  grievance  against  the  Kokwon- 
tons ;  nor  did  they.  The  marked  men  fell  in  due 
time.  And  so  the  feud  continues.  What  an 
apparently  insignificant  thing  set  it  in  motion? 
And  where  will  it  end? 

When  the  prospector  saw  the  fleet  of  canoes 
enter  the  lagoon,  he  drew  his  inference,  and  a 
correct  one.  Knowing  the  pursuers  would  find 
the  camp  vacant,  and  fearing,  when  they  did, 
they  might  continue  their  search  in  his  direc- 
tion, he  pulled  as  strongly  as  he  could  to  make 
the  best  possible  time. 

Deer  and  various  kind  of  wild  fowl  were  seen 
within  range  of  his  gun  as  they  moved  along, 
yet  he  had  no  disposition  to  take  time  to  fire 
at  them.  His  chief  concern  was  to  get  on.  He 
was  fleeing  for  a  place  of  refuge  from  the 
avengers  of  blood.  Not  until  darkness  began 
to  brood  over  the  land  did  he  cease  from  driv- 

[65] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

ing  his  boat  along.  As  it  was  the  season  when 
the  daylight  is  loth  to  disappear  from  the 
Alaskan  landscape,  he  had  a  good  long  day's 
pull. 

His  companion  was  no  stranger  to  the  oars. 
She  assisted,  therefore,  and  rendered  very 
valuable  service.  The  two  of  them  sent  the  lit- 
tle craft  along  at  a  good  speed ;  so  that  by  night- 
fall they  were  well  on  their  way. 

Kosteen  was  developing  true  affection  for 
Heizer,  as  he  treated  her  kindly  and  gave  her 
many  tokens  of  regard.  These  appealed  to  her, 
won  her  confidence  and  what  affection  she 
bestowed  upon  him.  She  now  felt  that  her 
life  was  bound  up  in  his.  She  felt  that  she 
had  alienated  herself  from  her  own  people,  and 
Gissaoosh  being  dead  she  had  no  one  else  but 
this  man  to  cling  to.  She  liked  him  and  she 
felt  a  certain  sense  of  security  in  his  com- 
panionship. 

So  while  she  missed  Gissaoosh  and  regretted 
his  death,  still  she  was  contented  with  her  lot, 
being  satisfied  that  the  course  of  things  had 
shapened  to  her  advantage.  For  she  was  very 
sensibly  aware  of  the  fact  that  Heizer  was  a 
much  better  provider  than  the  man  with  whom 
she  formerly  lived. 

[66] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

Poor  woman!  Little  did  she  know  what  a 
terrible  fate  awaited  her! 

Things  went  well  until  the  third  day  after 
they  had  broken  from  the  lagoon.  That  night, 
shortly  before  they  were  ready  to  retire, 
Heizer's  actions  became  very  strange.  He  had 
been  very  morose  through  the  entire  evening,  a 
phase  of  character  unusual  with  him.  But  very 
quickly  he  developed  the  character  of  a  wild, 
murderous  maniac.  Looking  at  the  unprotected 
woman  with  the  diabolical  look  of  a  full-fledged 
maniac,  uttering  an  imprecation  that  made  her 
blood  run  cold,  he  seized  her  by  the  throat,  sig- 
nifying his  intention  to  strangle  her.  She 
struggled  to  free  herself  from  his  deadly  grip, 
but  in  vain.  The  more  she  struggled  the  harder 
he  gripped,  until  she  fell  a  victim  to  his  mad 
frenzy.  Having  committed  this  ghastly  deed, 
he  saturated  her  clothing,  the  bedding,  and 
other  inflammable  material,  with  coal  oil.  He 
then  bound  himself  with  a  strong  cord  to  his 
dead  companion,  taking  care  before  he  did  so 
to  place  matches  where  he  could  reach  them. 
Having  prepared  this  gruesome  death-trap  for 
himself,  he  evidently  intended  to  perish  in  it. 
But  Providence  saved  him  from  such  a  miser- 
able end.  Just  before  he  was  ready  to  apply 

[67] 


INDIAN  VENGEANCE 

the  match,  he  was  discovered  by  parties  who 
were  passing  by.  Being  tied  when  they  ap- 
peared at  the  camp,  they  had  no  difficulty  in 
seizing  him.  He  was  conveyed  to  an  asylum 
below  where  he  soon  died  after  entering  it. 

A  long  time  has  elapsed  since  this  awful 
tragedy  occurred,  and  yet  the  spot  where  it 
occurred  is  to  this  day  eschewed  by  travelers, 
especially  by  Indians,  who  are  largely  swayed 
by  superstition. 

There  is  a  story  prevalent  with  the  natives 
of  the  country  that  every  night  the  sad  wail  of 
a  woman  is  heard  at  this  spot  and  that  travelers 
have  seen  an  apparition  there.  Whether  these 
things  be  true  or  not,  the  place  is  scrupulously 
avoided  by  those  who  know  of  the  tragedy. 

Whether  Heizer's  insanity  was  engendered  by 
his  brooding  over  his  complicity  in  the  death  of 
Gissaoosh;  or  through  fear  that  he  would  be 
captured ;  or  by  the  thought  of  his  self -degrada- 
tion, we  can  only  conjecture.  But  it  is  difficult 
to  conceive  of  a  more  disastrous  train  of  evils 
as  a  consequence  of  the  folly  of  one  man  and 
woman. 

END 


[68] 


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